Water walking pontoons

ABSTRACT

A water walking apparatus including a pair of elongated pontoons by which a user is able to propel himself through the water with a walking motion. The pontoons have longitudinally extending tunnels with flippers therein and have ballast tanks with buoyancy adjusting valves. The pontoons are formed with pitch dampeners thereon for improved stability and may also be provided with inertia reducers and improved propelling fins or flippers to increase the speed and distance travelled with the expenditure of a given amount of energy.

United States Patent [191 Dougherty Sept. 17, 1974 WATER WALKINGPONTOONS [76] Inventor: Earle T. Dougherty, 3420 N. 71st Ave., Phoenix,Ariz. 85033 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 423,429

[52] US. Cl 9/310 D [51] Int. Cl. A63c 15/04 [58] Field of Search 9/310D, 310 R, 310 A, 9/310 B, 310 C, 310 E; 115/21, 25; 114/125, 61, 66.5 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,071 11/1962 Vorst9/310 D 3,121,892 2/1964 Plumlee 3,479,674 11/1969 Beymer 9/31OD PrimaryE.raminer--Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Sherman D. BasingerAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert E Haynes, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A water walking apparatus including a pair of elongatedpontoons by which a user is able to propel himself through the waterwith a walking motion. The pontoons have longitudinally extendingtunnels with flippers therein and have ballast tanks with buoyancyadjusting valves. The pontoons are formed with pitch dampeners thereonfor improved stability and may also be provided with inertia reducersand improved propelling fins or flippers to increase the speed anddistance travelled with the expenditure of a given amount of energy.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIEDSEPITW 3.835.494

sum 1 or :3

PAIENIED SPl mu sum 2 or 3 PATENTED 71974 3. 8 35.494 v sum 3 or 3ILIHIllHlHllllllllH WATER WALKING PONTOONS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to waterwalking devices and more particularly to a pair of water walkingpontoons having improved stability and propulsion characteristics.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many attempts have been made to devise apractical apparatus which would enable a user to propel himself throughthe water in a standing position and by employing a walking movement.Although the prior art devices have taken many forms, they havegenerally proven unsatisfactory due to various problems which arebelieved to have kept these prior art devices from becoming commerciallyacceptable.

One such problem is control, i.e., as the user propels himself throughthe water with a walking motion, there is a natural tendency for theindividual floats or shoes to drift apart. Another problem is stabilityin that generally the prior art floats had very little displacement thusrequiring a keen sense of balance on the part of the user. Still anotherproblem is buoyance in that no provisions were made to accommodate usersof different sizes. Yet another problem was the straddle-legged positionthat the user must assume due to the width of the individual floats.This straddle-legged position resulted in problems of control andfatigue. Also, efficient propulsion means has proven difficult toachieve.

In attempts to solve the above problems, the prior art structures havebeen bulky, complex, costly,hard to fabricate and have resulted in othersuch manufacturing and marketing problems.

A particular prior art device which solved some of these problems andeased many of the others is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,758,898, issuedon Sept. 18, 1973, to the same inventor. However, it was found afterextensive use and testing that better stability and control would bedesirable. It was also found that the propulsion means could be improvedas the speed and distance travelled for the expenditure of a givenamount of energy was not completely satisfactory.

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, a need exists for a new and usefulwater walking apparatus which improves the performance of the prior artdevices and solves some of the problems thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a newand improved water walking apparatus is disclosed as including a pair ofelongated pontoons of substantially rectangular cross sectionalconfiguration with the height dimension being larger than the width. Thepontoons are guided and held in a vertical position by the users lowerleg portions which are encased in boots provided adjacent to theinwardly disposed cofacing surfaces of the justaposed pontoons. Each ofthe pontoons is fabricated of buoyant material and has a longitudinallyextending tunnel formed adjacent to the bottom thereof, through whichwater is allowed to move when the pontoons are in use. The tunnels eachhave a hinged flapper device therein for improving the response of thepontoons and for propulsion purposes and each have an upstanding ballasttank formed therein by which the buoyancy of the pontoons may beadjusted.

Pitch dampening structures are formed on the bow and stern of each ofthe pontoons and inertia reducing means preferably in the form ofelastic cables, interconnect the bows and stems of the respectivepontoons to ease the effort required to perfonn a walking motion and tohelp the user to control the tendency for lateral drifting of thepontoons.

Improved propulsion mechanisms are mounted on the pontoons in the formof manually operable fins and- /or extendable flapper mechanisms whichimprove the speed and distance travelled with the expenditure of a givenamount of energy.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved water walking apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedwater walking apparatus having means thereon by which the user mayadjust the buoyancy and having pitch dampening means, both for improvingthe stability of the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedwater walking apparatus including a pair of elongated pontoons eachhaving a longitudinally extending tunnel formed therein adjacent to thebottom thereof and in which flipper means are mounted to improve theresponse and ease of propelling the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedwater walking apparatus having inertial reducing means to ease theeffort required of a user to accomplish the walking motion and to'enablehim to more easily control lateral drifting.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new anduseful water walking apparatus of the above described character havingimproved propulsion means in the form of manually operable fins and/orextendible flapper mechanisms to increase the speed and distancetravelled with the expenditure of a given amount of energy.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, as well as theinvention itself, may be more fully understood from the followingdescription when-readv in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thewater walking apparatus of the present invention being operated by auser and incorporating some of the various features of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the pontoons which forms part of thewater walking apparatus of the present invention. r

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of one of the pontoons of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of one of the pontoons of the presentinvention having one form of improved propulsion means mounted thereon.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6, andillustrating the improved propulsion means shown in that figure.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of pontoons of the presentinvention having another form of the improved propulsion means thereon.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG.10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 9, 10and 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly tothe drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the water walking apparatus of thepresent invention which is indicated generally by the reference numeral10, and is shown to include a pair of pontoons 11 and 12 being worn onthe lower leg portions 13 of a user 14.

The pontoons 11 and 12 are each formed into an elongated structure ofgenerally rectangular cross sectional configuration with the heightdimension being larger than the width dimension. This type of structurehas two advantages, the first being that the pontoons may be positionedin a close juxtaposed relationship so as not to require a user to assumean exaggerated straddle-legged position, and the second advantage beingthat the largest surface area of the pontoons will be the side surfacesor edges so that the pontoons will resist the normal tendency to driftlaterally, that is separate when being used.

The pontoons 11 and 12 are of similar construction with one being themirror image of the other, thus the following detailed description ofthe pontoons while being limited to the pontoon 12 will apply to thepontoon 11 as well.

The pontoon 12 is made up of two basic elements namely, a body 16 and atunnel structure 18. The body 16 is molded or otherwise formed of abuoyant material such as closed cell expanded polystyrene as typified bya commercial product Styrofoam. An alternate method of construction (notshown) would be to form a suitable support frame and cover that framewith a suitable waterproof material such as glass fiber impregnated withresin.

The tunnel structure 18 may be fabricated of any suitable material and'may act as a stiffening member for the pontoon structure. Any ofseveral well known fabrication techniques may be employed such as sheetmetal suitable welded or riveted, formed glass fiber impregnated withresin, and the like.

In any event, the body 16 and the tunnel 18 are assembled, or integrallyformed, to provide the pontoon 12 with elongated side surfaces 20 and 22which are interconnected at their upper ends by a deck 24, and areinterconnected at their lower ends by a keel or bottom 26. The deck 24and bottom 26 extend longitudinally between the bow 28 and the stem 30.As seen best in FIG. 2, the sides 20 and 22 are of longitudinallyextending arcuate configuration to form the pontoon into a streamlineshape with a laterally bulging midship portion which tapers fore and aftinto a substantially pointed bow 28 and stem 30. It should be understoodhowever, that the arcuate shapes of the sides 20 and 22 need not besymetrical, for example, the side surface 20 may be formed with less ofa curve than is shown so that when in use, the pontoons 11 and 12 may bepositioned closer together so that the user may stand in a more naturalposition as will hereinafter be described in detail.

At a central location substantially intermediate the bow 28 and the stem30, a boot member 32 is provided into which the user 14 may insert hislower leg portion 13. It will be noted, particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4,that the boot 32 is laterally offset to place it adjacent to the sidesurface 20. Thus, with the two pontoons 11 and 12 having theirrespective boots 32 adjacent to their respective side surfaces 20, andthese side surfaces are in juxtaposed cofacing relationship as seen inFIG. 1, the user will not be required to assume an exaggeratedstraddle-legged position.

The boot 32 is formed with a substantially cylindrical upper portion 34for encasing the ankle and calf of the users lower leg portion 13, and ashoe portion 36 for encasing the users foot. The shoe 36 is located adjacent the bottom 26 of the pontoon 12, and the upper portion 34 extendsupwardly through the body 16 to the deck 24. Due to this positioning ofthe boot 32, a relatively stable device results due to the lower centerof gravity. Also, by the lower leg portion 13 of the user being encasedin the boot 32, lateral rocking of the pontoon is easily controlled bythe user and the pontoon will be easily kept in an upright position.

The effects on the user of pitching movements, i.e., rocking in a planelaying through the longitudinal center line of the pontoon, are held toa minimum by the ball of the users foot being located substantiallyintermediate the bow 28 and the stem 30 of the pontoon 12.

The stability of the pontoons 11 and 12 is further insured by pitchdampening means 38 formed on the bows 28 and stems 30 of the pontoons.As seen best in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 the pitch dampening means 38 includesa forwardly extending cantilever deck 40 formed at the bow 28, and arearwardly extending cantilever deck 42 formed at the stem 30 of thepontoon 12. The cantilever decks 40 and 42 are flush with the deck 24 ofthe pontoon 12 and have a thickness which places the bottoms 43 thereofjust above the water line of the pontoon. Thus, the forward cantileverdeck 40 resists attempts of the bow 28 to dip below the waters surfaceand the rear cantilever deck 42 resists attempts of the stem 30 to dipbelow the surface of the water.

With the user 14 standing in the pontoons l1 and 12, as shown in FIG. 1,there is a tendency for the pontoons to roll inwardly due to the weightof the user being applied at inwardly offset points with regard to thelongitudinal center lines of the pontoons. To overcome this tendency andthus not rapidly fatigue the user, the tunnel 18 is laterally offsettoward the side surface 22 of the pontoon 12. The weight of the watercontained within the tunnels 18, when the pontoons 1 1 and 12 are inuse, will resist lateral rocking or rolling movements of the pontoons.

The tunnel 18 of pontoon 12 is formed with a water admitting opening 46proximate the bow 28 and a water expelling opening 47 proximate the stem30. A flipper means 48 is provided in the tunnel 18 which allows waterto flow therethrough from the bow 28 to the stem 30 and will resist flowof the water in the reverse direction. Thus, when in use, as the pontoonis moved in a forward direction by a walking movement of the user, theflipper means 48 will open due to water pressure exerting a force on thefront surfaces thereof and water will flow through the tunnel 18. Whenan attempt is made to move the pontoon in a reverse direction, again bythe walking movement of the user, the flipper means 48 will close due towater pressure exerting a force on the rearwardly disposed surfacesthereof and thus backward movement of the pontoons is stopped.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the flipper means 48 includes a plurality ofindividually hingedly mounted flippers 50 which are movable from aclosed depending position to an open substantially horizontal position.The flippers 50 are positioned within the tunnel 18 so that when closed,the flippers will partially overlap each other to seal the tunnel. Byemploying a plurality of these flippers 50, instead of a single hingemounted flipper, the response time consumed in changing from an openstate to a closed state is substantially reduced which minimizes backsliding movements which naturally occur as the result of the userswalking movements.

As seen in FIG. 5, a ballast tank 52 extends upwardly from the tunnel 18and is separated therefrom by the upper wall or roof 53 of the tunnel.The tank 52 itself has a roof 54 which is flush with the deck 24 of thepontoon 12. A user operated valve 56 is suitably mounted in the roof 54of the tank 52 and has a handle 57 mounted atop a threaded shaft 58which extends downwardly through a mounting nut 59 and passes throughthe tank 52. The lower end of the shaft has a poppet 60 formed thereonwhich is seated in seat 61. When the valve 56 is closed, that is, thepoppet 60 is engaged in the seat 61, the tank 52 will contain air andthus provide buoyancy to the pontoon. The user may adjust the amount ofbuoyancy by simply opening the valve 56 to admit water to the tank 52.The tank 52 is provided with an aperture 62 formed in the roof 54 whichfreely allows air to escape from the tank when water is admittedthereto, and will allow air to reenter the tank when the water isexpelled.

If after water has been allowed to enter the tanks 52 of the pontoons 11and 12 to decrease the buoyancy, the user desires to increase thebuoyancy, or completely expel the water from the tanks 52, he may do soby opening the valves 56 (one at a time) and simultaneously lifting thepontoon vertically with his leg. This will allow the water to run out ofthe tank 52 and air will enter through the aperture 62.

It has been found through use and testing that inertia plays a veryimportant part in contributing to the fatigue of the user of a device ofthis nature. This may be easily seen when it is considered that eachtime a forward movement of the pontoons is started or stopped, as occursnaturally in the walking movement, a considerable amount of effort onthe part of the user is required to overcome inertia.

To lessen the fatigue of the user resulting from inertia, an inertiareducing means in the preferred form of elastic cords 64 and 65 areemployed. The cord 64 is suitably connected between the respective bows28 of the pontoons 11 and 12 such as with screw eyes 66. The cord 65similarly interconnects the respective stems 30 of the pontoons l1 and12. In operation, when one of the pontoons 11 or 12 reaches the fullyforward position and the other pontoon is positioned rearwardly thereof,the cords 64 and 75 will be stretched and thus will biasingly urge therearwardly disposed one of the pontoons to catch up. Therefore, theelastic cords 64 and 65 will materially assist the user in overcominginertia. Also, by interconnecting the pontoons 11 and 12 in this manner,the natural tendency for the pontoons to drift apart during use will beresisted.

Another elastic cord 67 may be employed to interconnect the pontoons 11and 12 at their midship portions. This third cord 67 will also help toovercome inertia as described above and may also serve as a stirrupwhich aids the user in mounting and dismounting.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 wherein an improved propulsion meansis shown to include a pair of manually operable fins 68 and 70. The fin68 is hingedly mounted on the side surface 20 of the pontoon 12 and thefin 70 is hingedly mounted on the side surface 22 thereof. The fins 68and 70 are moved between an outwardly disposed position, best seen inFIG. 8, to a retracted position flush with the side surfaces 20 and 22by means of a cable 72. The cable 72 is connected to each of the fins 68and 70 substantially intermediate the ends thereof, and extendslaterally therefrom into a guide tube 74 provided in the body 16 of thepontoon 12. The guide tube 74 changes the direction of the cable 72 sothat it extends upwardly through the deck 24 and passes over a pulley 76mounted on the deck. The pulley 76 changes the direction of the cable 72so that it is directed forwardly into engagement-with a second pulley 78mounted on the deck 24 adjacent the boot 32. After passing around thesecond pulley 78, the cable 72 is directed upwardly so as to position ahandle 80 within easy grasp of the user. To maintain this upwarddisposition of the cable 72, the second pulley 78 is formed with anupstanding tube 81 through which the cable 72 is axially slidable. Theupstanding tube 81 is provided with a flange 82 at its upper end againstwhich the handle 80 will rest when the fins 68 and 70 are not beingmanually operated by the user.

An alternate method of propulsion is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 12wherein the elements and functioning of an extendable flapper system isshown.

A plurality of flipper assemblies 84 are pivotably mounted to at leastthe side surface 22 of each of the pontoons 11 and 12, and if desiredmay also be mounted on the side surfaces 20 and the bottom 26 thereof.

A typical one of the flipper assemblies 84 may be seen best in FIGS. 10and 11 to include a substantially square frame 86 between the opposingvertical sides 88 of which a plurality of horizontally disposed flippers90 are mounted. Each of the flippers 90 have two pivot pins 92, with adifferent one extending from each of the opposite ends thereof. The pins92 are suitably journalled in the side members 88 of the frame 86 sothat each of the flippers 90 are free to pivot about a horizontal axisformed by their respective pivot pins 92.

Each of the flipper assemblies 84 is pivotably mounted by means ofsuitable pivot pins 94 so as to be movable between extended positionsshown in solid lines in FIGS. 10 and 12 and retracted positions shown indashed lines in the same figures.

The flipper assemblies 84 which are mounted on the side surface 22 ofpontoon 12 are interconnected by a tie-rod 95 so that they will move inunison between the extended and retracted positions. The flipperassemblies 84 which are mounted on the side surface 20 of the pontoon 12are similarly interconnected by a tierod 96.

An operator actuated lever 98 is pivotably carried in a suitable stand100 mounted on the deck 24. The lower end of the lever 98 is connectedto a transverse shaft 102 for moving that shaft fore and aft as shown inFIGS. and 12. The opposite ends of the transverse shaft 102 havecoupling levers 103 and 104 mounted thereon which are connected totie-rods 95 and 96, respectively, for transmitting the movements of theshaft 102 to the tie-rods which in turn will cause the flipperassemblies 84 to pivot between their extended and retracted positions.

The flipper assemblies 84 (one shown) which are mounted on the bottom 26of the pontoon 12 are interconnected by a tie-rod 106 so as to move inunison between the depending extended position and the retractedposition flush with the bottom 26. A user operated lever 108 pivotablycarried in a suitable stand 110 is connected to the tie-rod 106 forcontrolling the movements thereof.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in anillustrated embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to thoseskilled in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangements,proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in thepractice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adaptedfor specific environments and operation requirements without departingfrom those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended tocover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A pair of water walking pontoons each of said pontoons comprising:

a. an elongated body of rigid buoyant construction;

b. a tunnel formed longitudinally of said body adjacent the bottomthereof, said tunnel laterally offset toward one side of said body andforming a water admitting opening proximate the bow of said body and awater expelling opening proximate the stern thereof;

. flipper means mounted within said tunnel for permitting water flowtherethrough from the bow to the stern of said body and to prevent waterflow in the reverse direction; and a boot formed in said body andpositioned substantially intermediate the bow and stern thereof, saidboot laterally offset toward the side of said body which is oppositefrom the side toward which said tunnel is laterally offset, said bootextending from the bottom of said body upwardly therethrough to the deckthereof.

2. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidflipper means comprises a plurality of individual flippers each hingedlymounted within said tunnel for movement from a closed depending positionto an open substantially horizontal position, said flippers positionedso that when closed they will partially overlap each other to seal saidtunnel.

3. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 wherein aballast tank extends upwardly through said body from said tunnel and isseparated from said tunnel by the roof thereof, said ballast tank havingvalve means therein by which water may be selectively admitted from saidtunnel to said ballast tank.

4. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidbody includes pitch dampening means formed on the bow and the stern forpreventing the bow and the stem from dipping below the surface 5 of thewater.

5. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 furtherincluding:

a. a fin hingedly mounted on each of the opposite sides of said body formovement between an extended position away from said body and aretracted position flush therewith; and

b. means mounted on said body and connected to each of said fins formanually moving said fins between the extended position and theretracted position.

6. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 and furthercomprising:

a. at least one flipper assembly mounted on at least one of the surfacesof said body, said flipper assembly pivotably movable between anextended position substantially normal to said body and a retractedposition substantially flush therewith; and

b. means mounted on said body and connected to said flipper assembly forpivotably moving said flipper assembly between the extended and theretracted positions thereof.

7. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidflipper assembly comprises:

a. a frame having an opening therethrough which is defined by at least apair of opposed vertical side members; and

b. at least one flipper pivotably mounted between the opposed sidemembers of said frame for pivotable movement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, said flipper freely pivotable from an open positionwhich allows water to pass through the opening in said frame in onedirection and a closed position which prevents the passage of waterthrough the opening of said frame in the opposite direction.

8. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising:

a. a plurality of flipper assemblies mounted on the one side surface ofsaid body toward which said tunnel is laterally offset, said pluralityof flipper assemblies pivotably movable between an extended positionsubstantially normal to said body and a retracted position substantiallyflush therewith;

b. means interconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies so thatthe pivotable movement thereof is in unison; and

0. means mounted on said body and connected to said means forinterconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies by which a user maymove said plurality of flipper assemblies.

9. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising:

a. a plurality of flipper assemblies mounted on the bottom of said bodyand pivotably movable between a depending extended position and aretracted position substantially flush therewith;

b. means interconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies so thatthe pivotable movement thereof is in unison; and

c. means mounted on said body and connected to said means forinterconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies by which a user maymove said plurality of flipper assemblies.

10. A water walking apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of elongated pontoons juxtapositionally operable with respectto each other, each of said pontoons having a body of rigid buoyantconstruction;

b. a tunnel formed in each of said pontoons and extending longitudinallythereof, said tunnels positioned adjacent the bottoms of theirrespective ones of said pontoons and laterally offset toward theoutwardly disposed side surfaces thereof, each of said tunnels having awater admitting opening formed therein proximate the bow of theirrespective ones of said pontoons and having a water exiting openingformed proximate the stems thereof;

c. flipper means mounted within each of said tunnels for permittingwater to flow therethrough in the direction from the bow to the sternand preventing water from flowing in the reverse direction; and

d. a boot member formed in each of said pontoons and positionedsubstantially intermediate the bow and the stern of their respectiveones of said pontoons, each of said boots laterally offset toward theinwardly disposed side surface of its respective one of said pontoonsand extending from the bottom upwardly through the body to the deckthereof.

1 l. A water walking apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein each ofsaid pontoons is formed with pitch dampening means on the bow and stemthereof, said pitch dampening means including a cantilever deck havingthe bottom surface positioned immediately above the intended water lineof said pontoons.

12. A water walking apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pairof pontoons are interconnected with inertia reducing means for biasinglyurging said pontoons into a side-by-side relationship.

13. A water walking apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pairof pontoons are interconnected at their respective bows and stems withelastic cords for aiding the user to overcome inertia when using saidpontoons.

14. A water walking apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pairof pontoons are interconnected at their respective bows, stems andmidship portions with elastic cords for aiding the user in overcominginertia. =k

1. A pair of water walking pontoons each of said pontoons comprising: a.an elongated body of rigid buoyant construction; b. a tunnel formedlongitudinally of said body adjacent the bottom thereof, said tunnellaterally off-set toward one side of said body and forming a wateradmitting opening proximate the bow of said body and a water expellingopening proximate the stern thereof; c. flipper means mounted withinsaid tunnel for permitting water flow therethrough from the bow to thestern of said body and to prevent water flow in the reverse direction;and d. a boot formed in said body and positioned substantiallyintermediate the bow and stern thereof, said boot laterally offsettoward the side of said body which is opposite from the side towardwhich said tunnel is laterally offset, said boot extending from thebottom of said body upwardly therethrough to the deck thereof.
 2. A pairof water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flippermeans comprises a plurality of individual flippers each hingedly mountedwithin said tunnel for movement from a closed depending position to anopen substantially horizontal position, said flippers positioned so thatwhen closed they will partially overlap each other to seal said tunnel.3. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1 wherein aballast tank extends upwardly through said body from said tunnel and isseparated from said tunnel by the roof thereof, said ballast tank havingvalve means therein by which water may be selectively admitted from saidtunnel to said ballast tank.
 4. A Pair of water walking pontoons asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes pitch dampening meansformed on the bow and the stern for preventing the bow and the sternfrom dipping below the surface of the water.
 5. A pair of water walkingpontoons as claimed in claim 1 further including: a. a fin hingedlymounted on each of the opposite sides of said body for movement betweenan extended position away from said body and a retracted position flushtherewith; and b. means mounted on said body and connected to each ofsaid fins for manually moving said fins between the extended positionand the retracted position.
 6. A pair of water walking pontoons asclaimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a. at least one flipperassembly mounted on at least one of the surfaces of said body, saidflipper assembly pivotably movable between an extended positionsubstantially normal to said body and a retracted position substantiallyflush therewith; and b. means mounted on said body and connected to saidflipper assembly for pivotably moving said flipper assembly between theextended and the retracted positions thereof.
 7. A pair of water walkingpontoons as claimed in claim 6 wherein said flipper assembly comprises:a. a frame having an opening therethrough which is defined by at least apair of opposed vertical side members; and b. at least one flipperpivotably mounted between the opposed side members of said frame forpivotable movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said flipperfreely pivotable from an open position which allows water to passthrough the opening in said frame in one direction and a closed positionwhich prevents the passage of water through the opening of said frame inthe opposite direction.
 8. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimedin claim 1 further comprising: a. a plurality of flipper assembliesmounted on the one side surface of said body toward which said tunnel islaterally offset, said plurality of flipper assemblies pivotably movablebetween an extended position substantially normal to said body and aretracted position substantially flush therewith; b. meansinterconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies so that thepivotable movement thereof is in unison; and c. means mounted on saidbody and connected to said means for interconnecting said plurality offlipper assemblies by which a user may move said plurality of flipperassemblies.
 9. A pair of water walking pontoons as claimed in claim 1further comprising: a. a plurality of flipper assemblies mounted on thebottom of said body and pivotably movable between a depending extendedposition and a retracted position substantially flush therewith; b.means interconnecting said plurality of flipper assemblies so that thepivotable movement thereof is in unison; and c. means mounted on saidbody and connected to said means for interconnecting said plurality offlipper assemblies by which a user may move said plurality of flipperassemblies.
 10. A water walking apparatus comprising: a. a pair ofelongated pontoons juxtapositionally operable with respect to eachother, each of said pontoons having a body of rigid buoyantconstruction; b. a tunnel formed in each of said pontoons and extendinglongitudinally thereof, said tunnels positioned adjacent the bottoms oftheir respective ones of said pontoons and laterally offset toward theoutwardly disposed side surfaces thereof, each of said tunnels having awater admitting opening formed therein proximate the bow of theirrespective ones of said pontoons and having a water exiting openingformed proximate the sterns thereof; c. flipper means mounted withineach of said tunnels for permitting water to flow therethrough in thedirection from the bow to the stern and preventing water from flowing inthe reverse direction; and d. a boot member formed in each of saidpontoons and positioned substantially intermediate the bow and the sternof their respectIve ones of said pontoons, each of said boots laterallyoffset toward the inwardly disposed side surface of its respective oneof said pontoons and extending from the bottom upwardly through the bodyto the deck thereof.
 11. A water walking apparatus as claimed in claim10 wherein each of said pontoons is formed with pitch dampening means onthe bow and stern thereof, said pitch dampening means including acantilever deck having the bottom surface positioned immediately abovethe intended water line of said pontoons.
 12. A water walking apparatusas claimed in claim 10 wherein said pair of pontoons are interconnectedwith inertia reducing means for biasingly urging said pontoons into aside-by-side relationship.
 13. A water walking apparatus as claimed inclaim 10 wherein said pair of pontoons are interconnected at theirrespective bows and sterns with elastic cords for aiding the user toovercome inertia when using said pontoons.
 14. A water walking apparatusas claimed in claim 10 wherein said pair of pontoons are interconnectedat their respective bows, sterns and midship portions with elastic cordsfor aiding the user in overcoming inertia.